Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe stated that no social grants will be cancelled without proper verification and due process.

Delivering the department’s Budget for the 2025/2026 financial year, Tolashe assured Parliament that the Department remains committed to ensuring grants reach only eligible recipients.

She noted that recent efforts to review beneficiaries are not about unfairly cutting people off, but about ensuring that only those eligible receive grants. 

“We have not stopped or suspended any grant without due process. I wish to appeal to all beneficiaries who have received correspondence to visit SASSA offices and undergo a review process,” she said.

Tolashe emphasised that the grant system is a vital social safety net, supporting over 27 million beneficiaries, including 13 million children and more than 4 million older persons.

Of the department’s R294 billion budget allocation, R284 billion will go directly to monthly social assistance, while SASSA receives R24.7 billion for grant administration over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period.

She confirmed that the department is conducting a review process in line with Social Assistance Regulations to ensure grants are paid “to the right person, at the right time and place. NJALO!” The minister said this process has already resulted in savings exceeding R1 billion annually.

Over R34.9 billion is allocated to extend the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, reaching over eight million unemployed South Africans monthly who are between the ages of 18 and 59 each month.

Tolashe reaffirmed the Department’s long-term vision to transform the SRD into a permanent Basic Income Support system. “We are forging ahead with processes to replace the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress with a permanent measure,” she said. “Accordingly, we intend to re-table a policy proposal to Cabinet.”

“Our plans to modernise and transform SASSA into an efficient future-ready organisation are fully on track,” said Tolashe. Innovations include biometric systems, queue management, self-service kiosks and the expansion of Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programmes targeting vulnerable communities, she said. 

Tolashe also confirmed over R200 million has been allocated to detect and prevent fraud and corruption in the grant system, with pilot biometric systems completed in four SASSA offices and a full rollout expected by the end of the financial year.

On gender-based violence and femicide, the minister said the GBV Command Centre is now fully operational, with a 24/7 toll-free emergency line (0800 428 428) connecting the public to social workers. Tolashe highlighted that R102 million has been allocated to expand shelter services, particularly in areas still without facilities.

In addressing the sector’s staffing shortage, Tolashe acknowledged that the country is far from meeting the National Development Plan’s target of 55,000 social service professionals by 2030. She condemned the violence faced by social workers and stressed the need to protect these frontline workers.

The budget also provides R216 million for the National Development Agency (NDA), which has helped establish nine community-owned enterprises and raised over R60 million in additional funds. R137 million will go toward strengthening oversight and compliance in the non-profit sector, including measures to combat money laundering and terror financing, she said. 

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za

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